Blank feeding mechanism



Nov. 1, 1949. F. HUNTAR 2,486,415

BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM IN V EN TOR.

Nov. l, 1949. F. HUNTAR BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed sept. 26, 1945 y. i [Nl/ZTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 1, 1949 Felix Hnntar, Livingston, N. .-I., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corpora.-

tion of New Jersey Application september 2s, 1945, serial No. 618,736

9 Claims. l

i The present invention relates to a mechanism for feeding blanks and has particular reference to devices for picking up a plurality of blanks at 2 direct from a slitter or other machine and may be fed immediately into the receiving stack C without the formation of the stacks B.

one time and for carrying them to a place of deposit where they are collected ina stack.

An object of the invention is the provision of a blank feeding mechanism wherein a plurality of blanks arranged in a row extending longitudinally of the mechanism are picked up at onetime and carried to a place of deposit where they are collected in a stack for subsequent individual feeding so that an adequate supply of blanks in the stack may be maintained in accordance with the high speed operation of machines into which the blanks subsequently are fed individually.

Another object is the provision of such a feeding mechanism wherein the operation of the mechanism is controlled by the number of blanks in the stack to insure the maintenance of an adequate supply of blanks for immediate use.

Another object is the provision of a feeding mechanism of this character wherein the blanks are picked up from a plurality of stacks by magnets arranged on an intermittently operable conveyor and are transferred to a single supply stack at a suitable place of deposit so as to maintain at the place of deposit an adequate supply of blanks for immediate use.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood `from the following description, which,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a blank feeding mechanism embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. l with a plurality of stacks of blanks in place in the mechanism and with parts broken away and parts shown in section, the

view also including a wiring diagram of the elecple, the blanks may be fed into the mechanism The blanks A preferably are arranged in the stacks B in a row. /These stacks are located sideby-side and are maintained in spaced relation by a plurality of vertically disposed transverse separator plates II secured in a base I2 which rests on a horizontal table I3. At the bottom the stacks of blanks rest on a movable support member or platform I4. This platform when in a lowermost position rests on the base I2. The platform is formed with transverse clearance slots I6 through which the separation plates I I extend, as best shown in Fig. 2.

The blanks A are fed from the tops of the stacks B. For this purpose the platform I4 is movable vertically, in any suitable manner and in time with the other moving parts of the mechanism, to maintain the uppermost blanks in the stacks at a constant level or plane relative to the support I3. By way of example a set of vertical feed screws I1 threadedly engaging with the platform are shown in the drawings for this purpose. They may be turned in suitable manably by a pair of spaced and`parallel endless chain conveyors or conveyor members I8 which have intermittent movement. These' members carry a plurality of permanent magnets I9 secured to the chains at closely spaced intervals along their lengths. The conveyors extend longitudinally of the mechanism and across the top V of the row of stacked blanks A, as shown in the drawings. Adjacent one end, the conveyors loperate over a pair of spaced driving sprockets 2I. At the opposite end of the mechanism the conveyors operate over a pair olf-spaced and preferably smaller diameter idler sprockets 22. A hollow rocker beam 23 extends between the sprocket 2| 22 to maintain them in a spaced relation and this beam serves as a support for the conveyors between the sprockets.

The driving sprockets 2| are mounted on a rotatable drive shaft 25 which extends through a long bearing 26 on one end of the beam 23. The ends of the shaft are carried in bearing blocks 21 formed in brackets 28 bolted on the support I3. The shaft thus forms a pivotmember for the beam 23.

The idler sprockets 22 are mounted on a rotatable idler shaft 3l which is carried in a pair of spaced bearings 32 formed on this end of the beam 23. Between the bearings, the shaft carvertical actuating link 33. nk connects with a crank n a shaft 35 carried in a pair of spaced bearings 361 bolted to the support I3. The shaft 35 is rotated in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the mechanism.

Rotation of the shaft 35 rotates the crank 34 and thus moves the link 33 vertically. This vertical movement of the link rocks the beam 23 on its pivot or drive shaft 25 through a down stroke and thence through an up or returnstroke. On the down stroke of the beam, the magnets I9 on the conveyors I8 come into engagement with the uppermost blanks A in the several stacks B, as shown by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 2. This attracts and picks up these blanks. On the up stroke of the beam, the picked-up blanks are carried upwardly away from and clear of the stacks B. This picking up of the blanks from the stacks takes place while the conveyors remain stationary, that is while they are on the stop phase of their cycle.

When the picked-up blanks A are entirely clear of the stacks B, the conveyors I8 again move and this advances all of the picked-up blanks toward the driving sprockets 2i. The driving sprockets 2| e intermittently rotated in time with the vertical rocking movement of the beam 23 by a helical gear 38 and a meshing interrupted helical gear 39. Thus the beam is moving up and down while the conveyor chains are advancing, the chains being at rest while the crank 34 is passing over its dead center at the bottom of the stroke.

The gear 38 is mounted on one end of the drive shaft 25. The interrupted gear 39 is mounted on the upper end of a. vertically disposed gear drive shaft 4I which is carried in suitable bearings and which is rotated in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the mechanism.

During the rotation of the drive sprockets 2l and the resulting travel of the conveyors I8, the picked-up blanks A held by the magnets I9 are carried to a position directly over a magazine 43 disposed under the drive sprockets 2|. At this place they are stripped olf or removed from the magnets whereupon they fall into the magazine as the magnets pass over the magazine.

This stripping action is effected by a stripper plate 44 which is located between the drive sprockets 2I and in the path of travel of the blanks clinging to the magnets. The stripper plate is bolted to the magazine. The magazine may form a part of a subsequent operation machine. The magazine may be bolted to a frame 45 which may be the main frame of such -a machine. When all of the blanks A are stripped off from the magnets I9 and into the magazine 43 during this step advancement the stack C is thus built up by that number of blanks. At the beginning of the rest period of the conveyors I8, the beam 23 has reached its lowered position to pick up another row of blanks from the tops of the row of stacks B for transfer and deposit into the magazine to augment the stack C. In this manner repeated rocking movement of the beam 23 together with the intermittent movement of the conveyors I8 result in a high speed feeding of the blanks A from the several stacks B into the single stack C..

In this manner there is maintained in the magazine 43 an adequate supply of blanks. Such a feeding device, therefore, is well adapted for the ries the upper end of a The lower end of the li 34 which is mounted o ymeral 59 forces the arm i continued operation of subsequent operation ma.- chines. During this feeding of the blanks, the uppermost blanks in the several stacks B preferably are maintained in the same horizontal level by vertical lifting of the platform I4. Such elevating of the stacks is in time with the rocking of the beam 23, as hereinbefore mentioned.

Provision is made for controlling the operation of the mechanism in accordance with the supply of blanks in the stack C in the magazine 43. This control is exercised preferably through a plurality of electric circuits which govern the operation of an electric motor 5I, indicated in the wiring diagram of Fig. 2, which constitutes the main source of power for rotating the shafts 35 and 4I of the mechanism.

Making and breaking of these circuits is brought .about by opening and closing a pair of electric toggle switches. One of the pair is a low stack switch 52, the other is a high stack switch 53. Both switches may be secured to the outside of the magazine 43. These-switches are opened and closed by respective pivotally mounted switch arms 54, 55 which are maintained under spring pressure and which extend into the magazine through slots 56 formed in the side thereof. These switches normally close their respective circuits unless operated on.

When blanks A in the stack C in 43 engage against the switc are forced outwardly. This opens the switches. When the magazine is filled to capacity with the blanks, both switches 52, 53 are held open and the feeding mechanism does not operate and no feeding of blanks from the stacks B takes place.

As the blanks in the lfrom the magazine sequent operation m of blanks drops belo the magazine h arms 54, 55 the arms stack C are discharged 43 as when used in a subachine, the top of the stack w the high stack switch arm 55. This arm thereupon moves inwardly under the action of a spring 58. This closes the high stack switch 53 but the closing of this switch alone is not suflicient to set the feeding mechanism into operation. When the top 0f the stack of blanks in the stack C is below the low stack switch arm 54, the spring designated by the nu w nwardly and this closes the low stack switch 52. The closing of the low a stacking circuit X wh 6I of .a normally open rel cuit stack switch establishes ich includes a solenoid ay switch 62. This ciras well as others to be hereinafter described. transmits electric energy from -a main circuit Y having a main lead wire 63 and a return wire 84 connecting with a suitable source of electric energy such as a generator 65. The electric motor 5I is also connected to these lead and return Wires 63, 64, the return wire including a normally open motor relay switch 66 disposed adjacent the motor and actuated by a solenoid 61.

Hence with the closing of the low stack switch 52 electric energy from the main lead wire 63 flows along a wire 1I, solenoid 6I, a wire l2, through the low stack switch 52, and along a wire 13 to the return wire 64. Energy flowing along this circuit energizes the solenoid 6I and closes the normally open relay switch 62. Closing of the relay switch establishes a holding circuit W which cuts out the low stack switch 52 and thus permits continued operation of the feeding mechanism as the blanks A newly deposited in the magazine 43 build up the stack C above the low stack switch arm 54.

With the closing of the relay switch 62, electric energy from the main lead wire Il, passes along wire 1I, solenoid Si, wire 12, a connecting wire 14, switch 62a wire 1l, the closed high stack switch 53, a wire 16, solenoid 81 of motor switch 66, and a wire 11 to the return wire 64. Energy passing along., this holding circuit energizes the motor solenoid 61 and thus closes the motor switch 66. Closing of this motor switch completes the generator circuit Y Aleading to the motor 5I and thus operates the motor for a period as long as the motor switch 68 remains closed.

With the continued operation of the motor El, the blanks A deposited into the magazine build up the stack C until the stack becomes so high that the blanks press the high stack arm 55 outwardly a distance suilcient to open the high stack switch 53. `The opening of this switch breaks the holding circuit W and hence deenergizes the'motor solenoid 61. This permits the motor switch 66 to4 open and this breaks the generator circuit Y.

Hence the motor stops operating and the feed mechanism ceases feeding of the blanks A from the stacks B into the single stack C in the magazine 43. The mechanism remains in this stopped condition until the stack C again runs low at which time the establishment of the above described circuits is repeated to again build up the stack C. It is in this manner that the mechanism is controlled bythe condition of the stack C, as hereinbefore mentioned.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for feeding blanks, the combination of a conveyor, a support disposed adjacent said conveyor for supporting a plurality of blanks arranged in a rowl extending longitudinally of said conveyor, means for moving said conveyor toward and away from the blanks on said support, means on said conveyor forpicking up the blanks on said support when the conveyor is moved into a position adjacent said blanks, means for actuating said conveyor to carry the picked-up blanks toa place of deposit,- stripper means at said place of deposit for stripping the picked-up blanks from said conveyor. and electrical means having a high stack switchy anda, low stack switch engageable with the deposited blanks for controlling the actuation of said conveyor to insure a maximum and a minimum of deposited blanks.

2. In a mechanism for feeding blanks, the combination of an endless conveyor, a support disposed below said conveyor for supporting a plurality of blanks arranged in a row extending longitudinally of said conveyor, means for moving said conveyor toward and, away from the blanks on said support, means on said conveyor for picking up the blanks on said support when the conveyor is moved into a, position adjacent said blanks, means for actuating said conveyor to carry the picked-up blanks to a place of deposit, a magazine at said place of deposit, and means adjacent said magazine for removing the pickedup blanks from said conveyor for deposit in said magazine in an orderly stacked arrangement.

3. In a. mechanism for feeding blanks, the combination of an endless conveyor, a support disposed below said conveyor for supporting a plurality of blanks arranged ina row extending 1ongitudinally of said conveyor, means for moving said conveyor toward and, away from the blanks on said support, means .on said conveyor for picking up the blanks onsaid support when the conveyor is moved into a position adjacent said blanks, means for actuating said conveyor 'to carry the picked-up blanks to a place of deposit, means at said place of deposit for removing the picked-up blanks from saidconveyor for deposit in an orderlyl stacked arrangement, and means at said place of deposit and engageable with the deposited blanks for controlling' the actuation of said conveyor.

4. In a mechanism for feeding blanks, the combination of an endless conveyor, a support disposed below said conveyor for supporting a plurality of rows of blanks arranged side by side longitudinally of said conveyor, a pivotal mounting' for one end of said conveyor, means adjacent the opposite end of said conveyor for moving said conveyor toward and away from the blanks on said support, a plurality of pick-up devices carried by said conveyor for picking -up the uppermost blank in each row of blanks on said support when the conveyor is moved into a positionv adjacent saidblanks, means for actuating said conveyor to carry theA picked-up blanks to a place of deposit, and stripper means at said place of deposit for successively removing the' picked-- up blanks from saidrconveyor and for collecting them in a single stack.

5. In a mechanism for feeding blanks. the combination of an endless conveyor, a support disposed below said conveyor for supporting a plurality of stacks of blanks arranged in a row extending longitudinally of said conveyor, means for moving said conveyor toward said stacks of blanks, means on said conveyor for picking up the'top blanks from the stacks of blanks when the conveyor is so moved, means for actuating said conveyor to' carry the picked-up blanks longitudinally of the row of stacksof blanks and to a place of deposit, and means at said place of deposit for removing said blanks from the conveyor and for collecting them in a single stack.

6. In a mechanism for feeding blanks, the combination of an endless conveyor, a support disposed below said conveyor for supporting a plurality of stacks of blanks arranged in a row extending longitudinally of said conveyor, means for moving said conveyor toward said stacks of blanks, magnetic means on said conveyor for picking up the top blanks from the stacks oi.' blanks when the conveyor is so moved, m'eans for intermittently actuating said. conveyor' vto carry the picked-up blanks longitudinally'of the row of stacks of blanks and to a place of deposit, and means at said place of deposit for removing said blanks from the conveyor during the intermittent actuation of the conveyor and for collectbination of an endless conveyor, a support dis- 10 posed below said conveyor for supporting a plurality of stacks of blanks arranged in a row extending longitudinally of said conveyor, means for moving said conveyor toward and away from the blanks on said support, means on said conveyor for picking up the top blanks from the stacks of blanks on said support when the conveyor is moved into a position adjacent said blanks, devices for shifting said support to keep the top of the stacks at a predetermined level to 20 facilitate removal of the top blanks therefrom by said conveyor, means for actuating said conveyor to carry the picked-up blanks to a place of deposit, and means at said place of deposit for removing the picked-up blanks from said 25 conveyor.

9. In a, mechanism for feeding blanks, the combination of an endless conveyor, a support disposed below said conveyor for supporting a plurality of stacks of blanks arranged in a row extending longitudinally of said conveyor means for moving said conveyor toward and away from the blanks on said support, means on said conveyor for picking up the top blanks from the stack of blanks on said support when the conveyor is moved into a position adjacent said blanks, devices for lifting said support in synchronism with the movement of said conveyor to keep the top of the stacksat a predetermined level to facilitate removal of the top blanks there-L from by said conveyor, means for actuating said conveyor to carry the picked-up blanks to a place of deposit, and means at said place of deposit for removing the picked-up blanks from said conveyor.

FELIX HUNTAR.

REFERENCES crrED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

